LANSING — Michigan is the only state in the U.S. without a law that ensures consumers can put security freezes on their credit reports, but that could change with a bill making its way through the state legislature.

The Michigan Senate last week unanimously passed legislation to require credit reporting agencies to place or remove a security freeze on a consumer's credit report at his or her request. Senate Bill 174 also would allow legal guardians to place a freeze on the accounts of children under age 16, or an incapacitated person or other protected individual.

"It's a simple maneuver that needed to change in statute to allow consumers to put security freezes and thereby protect their kids and vulnerable adults and seniors from what has been estimated to be a $21 billion problem in the U.S. in identity theft," said bill sponsor Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph.

Most people won't notice much of a change, though. The three major credit report companies already allow consumers to place a security freeze on their account.

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion charge Michigan consumers their default fee of $10 each to place, temporarily lift or permanently remove a freeze, unless the consumer was the victim of identity theft, in which case it's free.

Michigan law would apply those same fees, while requiring free freezes for children under age 16. Some states mandate the companies offer the service at no charge, or they set lower fees and waive them for senior citizens.

A freeze is meant to prevent identity thieves from opening lines of credit in the victim's name by prohibiting reporting agencies from releasing credit reports or other personal information unless the consumer authorized the release. For example, someone shopping for a new car could authorize a bank to access the credit report in order to issue a loan. There are exceptions for existing loans, court orders and certain other circumstances.

The House Financial Services Committee is scheduled to take up the bill on Wednesday.

Find out more about ways to fight and prevent identity theft, including security freezes and extended fraud alerts, here.